Wichita eagle., 1887-12-27
DEATH OF W. C. wOODMAN-IN Me-
MORIAM,

lars of our city, one whose graceful beauty
was only surpassed by his strength, has
fallen, not suddenly nor unexpectedly, but,
alas. fallen. He who in all the years of our
triumphs, as in the hours of our adversely,
has stood up so proudly, so confidently. as
safe counselor and faithful friend, his
white hairs commanding our respect and
confidence no more than his prime man
hood and ripened wisdom, is no more He
who as a merchant was first, as a banker
first, and as a citizen first, and in each most
prominent, most successful, most faithful
and true, is no more All Of these was w
c. Woodman.
We are all the children Of nature, ruled
by DEGREES that seem engraved in adamant,
and If as children, we appear to command
the solicitude of Heaven, yet are we curbed
by stricter rules, destined to harder fate
than all else of earth's creatures. Follow
ing the brief days Of childhood's freedom
and happiness come the days of clouds and
passions, and then, so swiftly, the gulf of
night, shoreless and bottomlesS, into which
all disappear.
William Clayton Woodman was of
Quaker descent. His grandfather, Ed
ward WOodman, came to South Carolina
from England in 1l50 and served under
Washington. His father, Abishai Wood
man, was born at Valley Forge. on the
very spot of the old camp, in 1892, and
when grown became a merchant in Potts
vile, Pennsylvania. w. c. Woodman was
born Oct. q, 1916, and died yesterday at
his beautiful home at Lake Side, surroun-
ded by his wife and children, who had
watched and hoped for weary months. OF
his life we know little, except that as
young man he started as merchant with
his father, afterwards became a member OF
a wholesale dry goods firm in Phila-
delphia which firm failed in the financial
stress OF 1851. He then came west to Jack
sOnville, where he went into business, con-
tlnulng in the same several wears, in which
he greatly prospered. In 1870, having
heard much of the Arkansas valley and its
prospective opening for settlement, he came
to Kansas and to Wichita, then a small
frontier trading village. He gave to this
section the name of Happy Valley" He
established the first bank in the Arkansas
Falley-"The First Arkansas Valley bank
of which he was still president at the
time of his death. He was the author of a
work on national finances and but lately
had printed a second work on the same
subject, which would have been mailed to
bankers and statesmen all over this coun-
try ere this had he not taken sick. For
years he had given nearly all of his spare
time TO this question as he saw that the
debt would soon be wiped out and with it
would have to come some new plan of ma
tional bank issue. His theory would in
off. to / nit lo,, :
issue and keep in circulation $3.50 600, 900.
neither more or less, which issue would be
good for all debts except duties on inn
ports, legal tender with all national
banks made fiscal agents for the general
government. In the winter of 1S61-6S he
addressed meeting of congressman and
United States senators in Washington
upon the subject Politically, w: c. Wood
man was an old-lime Wing, an
enthusiastic National Union man
and a Republican OF later
years. He was personal friend Of Abra-
ham Lincoln, and when that great man
was assassinated was especially invited to
Washington where he assisted in the last
sad obSequies. His first wife was Miss
Amanda Twining, by whom he had six
all living but one. His second
and present wife, whom he married in
was Miss Eliza beth Williams, who
is left with four children of her own to
mourn the loss of the kindest of husbands
and the most generous of fathers His
eldest son and partner, W. :. WoOdman
mas for years attended TO the details of
their bank.
Last summer, year, and especially
=, 81
often to see the writer, he complained OF a
of breath and depression in the
region of the heart lie made a trip to
the yellow Stone country and later TO Cal /
fornia, but seemed to gain no strength.
Early in spring he made arran -ements to /
make "A tour of Europe, but his physicians |
advised against it, suggesting some water /
ing place on the Atlantic sea board. SO he F.
spent the summer at different points in
New England returning home in the early
fall For few weeA he went down to
Hot Springs. in Arkansas, but finding no
rest or relief be came back home and soon
ook his bed His life had Been a very
busy one, he being man Of indOmnibe I
Will and tremendous energies. In his seven- /
y one Years and two months OF life he had
worked more and experienced more than
5he average centcuariaH. HIS was indeed .
4 busy existence. But for him, life with .
Is cares and disappointments, with all of /
Is demands and responsibilities, with its .
ngratitudeS and broken promises, its .
many clouds and uncertain hopes, has .
,nded and he Is at rest His happy
valley which first broke upon his view .
ike vision iof enchantment from yon-
iers swell (Which must now hold all .
hat earth ever gave hirs) will no doubt, /
II the fruitful years TO come attain TO all .
which he hoped and prophesied, but his .
BART OF the work is finished. his task is
lone and the sunshine and clouds of all !
lis future will find him resting.
For here is rest,
For weary brain and breast.
Deep rest. complete.
And never more
Heart weary and foot-sore,
Shall stray thy feet
Rest here, at last
The long way overpast-
Rest here at home;
Thy race Is run
Thy dreary journey done,
Thy last peak clomb
AN ENTERPRISING FIRM.
But few firms east or west keep pace
he Royal Spice Mills in their enterprise